Sentences containing compound predicates may be made more direct in thought if one of the verbs is changed to a participle or an infinitive, because the predicate will then express only one action; as,
1. The carpenter threw down his hammer and walked out of the shop.
2. Throwing down his hammer, the carpenter walked out of the shop.
3. I went downtown and applied for the position.
4. I went downtown to apply for the position.
Change the following sentences so that one action is denoted by the predicate of each:
1. A teamster drove out of the alley east of the theater and swung his horses directly in front of a Madison street car.
2. The tongue struck the front of the car and bored a hole in the fuse box.
3. The fire spread and burned the roof of the car.
4. The half dozen passengers were badly frightened and got out quickly.